The Hutchinson News reports Michael Garcia arrived in Hutchinson early from Illinois for the North American Falconers Association national field meet, scheduled for Nov. 8-13. He was training his bird when it escaped from a leash Tuesday.

Police and Garcia are asking for the public’s help in finding the white falcon.

Garcia says the bird has escaped twice in the five years Garcia has been raising it. The falcon has a 5-foot wingspan and is nearly all white with black speckles on the wings.

Garcia says if the bird isn’t found he likely won’t stay and attend the falconer event. But if the bird is found he’ll return to retrieve it.